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Spacing: 18-24 in. (45-60 cm) 24-36 in. (60-90 cm)
Hardiness: USDA Zone 6a: to -23.3 °C (-10 °F) USDA Zone 6b: to -20.5 °C (-5 °F) USDA Zone 7a: to -17.7 °C (0 °F) USDA Zone 7b: to -14.9 °C (5 °F) USDA Zone 8a: to -12.2 °C (10 °F) USDA Zone 8b: to -9.4 °C (15 °F) USDA Zone 9a: to -6.6 °C (20 °F) USDA Zone 9b: to -3.8 °C (25 °F) USDA Zone 10a: to -1.1 °C (30 °F) USDA Zone 10b: to 1.7 °C (35 °F) USDA Zone 11: above 4.5 °C (40 °F)
Sun Exposure: Sun to Partial Shade
Danger: All parts of plant are poisonous if ingested
Bloom Color: Violet/Lavender Purple
Bloom Time: Late Winter/Early Spring Mid Spring Late Spring/Early Summer Mid Summer Late Summer/Early Fall Blooms repeatedly
Foliage: Evergreen Smooth-Textured
Other details: Average Water Needs; Water regularly; do not overwater
Soil pH requirements: 5.6 to 6.0 (acidic) 6.1 to 6.5 (mildly acidic) 6.6 to 7.5 (neutral) 7.6 to 7.8 (mildly alkaline) 7.9 to 8.5 (alkaline)
Propagation Methods: By dividing the rootball From semi-hardwood cuttings
Seed Collecting: Allow pods to dry on plant; break open to collect seeds
On Jun 13, 2008, tinabeana from Greenville, SC (Zone 8a) wrote:
I have both vinca major and minor in my yard. Vinca major is the much more invasive of the two, growing over it's smaller sibling anywhere the two meet. Let me put it this way: you know a plant is invasive when it chokes out the baby bamboo that's randomly growing in your flower bed... I've pulled out a pile that overflowed a wheelbarrow, but unfortunately that was just one 10 x 2 ft area.
Living tendrils are difficult to remove from the ground, as they have an extensive and spidery root system. Any root that remains with most assuredly grow into a new plant. As hard as they are to deal with, they're still easier than the dead tendrils found underneath: these dry into cord-like whips that seem even more tightly rooted than their living counterparts.
To be so invasive, this plant reacts very poorly to the hot and dry summer days in my area: the thin leaves wilt easliy leaving me with mounds of what almost look like wilted lettuce greens. While I like the larger flowers of v. major, I much prefer the foliage on v.minor: the leaves are smaller, more closely spaced, darker, and hold up better in the summer.
On Jan 11, 2008, tbweber from Huntsville, AL wrote:
Horribly invasive even when completely neglected. Roundup won't touch it, and digging makes only a small dent as the tiniest piece of root will continue to spread. Also loves to hide in other plants. My liriope is infested with vinca now. It does have pretty new foliage and blooms in February here, but by summer's heat it's just a tangle of vines, some 15 feet long. Will also jump any edging to take over your lawn. If you're in zone 7, please reconsider before adding this one - or come to my house with a shovel and large truck.
On Jun 17, 2006, pforrester from Fallbrook, CA wrote:
I bought a flat of periwinkle b/c I saw a large shaded bank covered with them in Santa Paula CA. So I just planted part of the flat (42plants) Under my trees. Hoping they will become groundcover without having to bring irrigation specifically to them. There are some drip hoses here and there and some might get some water from the grass sprinklers. I will report back. I hope they go everywhere. I am in zone 10b San Diego county.
Works well as a ground cover under white oak trees on the south and west side of the house. It coexists well with the interplanted ferns, hostas, Solomon seal and spring bulbs.
On Dec 26, 2005, taraAthan from Redwood Valley, CA wrote:
Vinca major is invasive in riparian (streambank) areas in California and other Western US states. Problems it causes are displacement of native species, erosion and bank destabilization, and it is a host for the insect pests blue-green and glassy-winged sharpshooters, which carry Peirce's disease, a pathogen of vineyards and orchards.
See [HYPERLINK@www.cal-ipc.org]
The alternative, vinca minor ,is a better choice for landscaping in these regions- it is not invasive. If you have this plant in your landscape, please try to keep it from spreading into the riparian areas.
On Apr 4, 2005, JaxFlaGardener from Jacksonville, FL (Zone 8b) wrote:
I have the variegated form of this plant growing as a ground cover in one of my flower beds. It is spreading, as desired, and currently in bloom. It provides an interesting, low-growing background for my other plants.
On Sep 28, 2004, pokerboy from Canberra
() (Zone 8b) wrote:
This plant can become very invasive however if caught early it is easy to eradicate. It is primarily grown for its flowers however it is sometimes grown for its foliage. Very drought tolerant. pokerboy.
On Nov 7, 2003, Kelli from Los Angeles (Canoga Park), CA (Zone 10a) wrote:
Very invasive in this climate (low-elevation, non-desert southern California) and very hard to get rid of. Has naturalized in the wild.
Regional...
This plant has been said to grow in the following regions:
Birmingham, Alabama Huntsville, Alabama Goodyear, Arizona Phoenix, Arizona Canoga Park, California Clayton, California Fortuna, California Grass Valley, California Merced, California Mountain View, California Oak View, California Clifton, Colorado Delray Beach, Florida Jacksonville, Florida Venice, Florida Elburn, Illinois Louisville, Kentucky Romeo, Michigan Cottage Grove, Minnesota Mathiston, Mississippi Waynesboro, Mississippi Tijeras, New Mexico Cincinnati, Ohio Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Gold Hill, Oregon Conway, South Carolina Greenville, South Carolina Viola, Tennessee Alice, Texas Houston, Texas San Antonio, Texas Syracuse, Utah Madison, Wisconsin